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Title: Conceptual designs for commercial OTEC-ammonia product plantships

Conference · · Alternative Energy Sources; (United States)
OSTI ID:6990949

The U.S. Department of Energy program plan for OTEC calls for design of pilot/demonstration plantships leading to commercial development for energy intensive product options as well as OTEC facilities for direct delivery of electric power to shore via undersea cables. The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has investigated alternative product options and their relative commercial viabilities since 1975, and has studied and developed proposed designs for OTEC plantships to produce significant amounts of energy products from the ocean in a reliable, environmentally acceptable, and cost effective manner, including resolution of some of the critical engineering design items through analysis and tests. This paper discusses some of this earlier work in its relation to the conceptual commercial plantship designs presented and describes the OTEC power systems and ammonia plant process requirements, including integration-operational aspects. Estimated OTEC power capacities and energy flow usage prospects are presented. Specific plantship layouts are discussed including construction and deployment, and projected costs versus market potentials are summarized.

Research Organization:
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel, Maryland
OSTI ID:
6990949
Report Number(s):
CONF-801210-
Journal Information:
Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Vol. 4; Conference: 3. Miami international conference on alternative energy sources, Miami Beach, FL, USA, 15 Dec 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English